NFS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Rev. 8-86) RECEIVED 2780 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NAT. REGISTER OF 7' National Register of Historic Places NATIONAL FAR Registration Form 1. Name of Property historic name: Fort Hamilton Historic District other name/site number: Rose Island 2. Location street & number: Rose Island not for publication: N/A city/town: Newport, RI_____ vicinity: N/A state: RI county: Newport code: 005 zip code: 02840 3. Classification Ownership of Property: Private; Public-local Category of Property: District_______________ Number of Resources within Property: Contributing Noncontributing 2___ 10 buildings 4___ 2___ sites 5___ 9___ structures ____ ____ objects 11 21 Total Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register: Name of related multiple property listing: Lighthouses of Rhode Island (for Rose Island Lighthouse) USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Page 2 Property name Fort Hamilton H.D.. Rose Island, Newport County. R.I. 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this X nomination __ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property X meets __ does not meet the National Register Criteria. rs __ See continuation sheet. pA _.\Qf \U fl) i£ Signature of certifying official Date State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. See continuation sheet. Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 5. National Park Service Certification hereby certify that this property is: entered in the National Register ____ See continuation sheet, determined eligible for the National Register ____ See continuation sheet. determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other (explain): _________ Signature of Keeper Date of Action 6. Function or Use Historic: Defense Sub: fortification Transportat ion Water-related Current: Education Sub: research facility USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Page 3 Property name Fort Hamilton H.D., Rose Island, Newport County, R.I. 7. Description Architectural Classification: NO STYLE__________________ Other Description: Materials: foundation Stone________ roof brick vaults walls Brick/Stone___ other __________ Earth__________ Describe present and historic physical appearance. X See continuation sheet. 8. Statement of Significance Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: statewide Applicable National Register Criteria: A, C & D Criteria Considerations (Exceptions): ______ Areas of Significance: Arch itecture___________________________ Engineering Military Transportation Period(s) of Significance: 1778-1820 1869 Significant Dates: 1780 1820 1869 Significant Person(s): de Tousard, Anne Louis Cultural Affiliation: Architect/Builder: de Tousard, Anne Louis State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations, and areas and periods of significance noted above. X See continuation sheet. USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Page 4 Property name Fort Hamilton H.D., Rose Island, Newport County, R.I. 9. Major Bibliographical References X See continuation sheet. Previous documentation on file (NPS): __ preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested. X previously listed in the National Register __ previously determined eligible by the National Register __ designated a National Historic Landmark __ recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey # _____ __ recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # Primary Location of Additional Data: x State historic preservation office __ Other state agency __ Federal agency __ Local government __ University x Other - Specify Repository: Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation 10. Geographical Data Acreage of Property: 17 acres UTM References: Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing A 19 304550 4596560 B 19 304740 4596160 C 19__ 304380 4596160 D 19__ 304400 4596380 __ See continuation sheet. Verbal Boundary Description: X See continuation sheet. Boundary Justification: X See continuation sheet. 11. Form Prepared By Name/Title: Richard C. Youncrken and Charlotte E. Johnson______________ Organization: Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation, Inc._____ Date: 12/31/94 Street & Number: P.O.Box 1419 Thames Street_________ Telephone: 401-847-4242 City or Town: Newport___________________________ State: RI____ ZIP: 02840 NFS Form 10-900-a 0MB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Property name Fort Hamilton H.D., Rose Island, Newport County. Rhode Island Section number 7 Page 5 Description Fort Hamilton is a quadrilateral, irregular, bastioned fort located on Rose Island in Narragansett Bay facing the entrance to the Bay's East Passage at the entrance to Newport Harbor. The Fort is composed of several distinct characteristic elements of 18th and early 19th century fortification design which survive with considerable integrity, although the island was reused in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for explosives storage, ordnance testing and torpedo manufacturing. Fort Hamilton occupies the area of Rose Island which is not subject to periodic storm flooding and thereby contributes to the historical setting of the island as a fortified place. As such the design of the fort takes advantage of the entire island and includes natural components of the island as aids in defensive architecture. The architectural components of the fort include an irregular quadrilateral trace with angular brick and earthen bastions at the northeast and southeast corners facing Newport, and circular, stone bastions or tower bastions at the northwest and southwest corners facing the East Passage of Narragansett Bay. The south curtain wall and rampart are constructed of stone and earthworks. The west curtain wall between the tower bastions was an earthen rampart with embrasures. The north curtain wall consists of an earthen wall built by French forces in 1780. Within the trace of the fort a brick bombproof barracks, and the ghost of a rectangular "citadel" (presumably built by French forces ca. 1780) remain. In addition, archaeological investigations have documented the possible existence of an officers' quarters building in the eastern portion of the fort. The areas of Rose Island lying outside the fort's trace were utilized as natural glacii to absorb the impact of bombardment including the ricochet of incoming fire off the water. These low-lying areas were within the fire zones of the fort. The 1X9 bay, single-story, stone and brick masonry bombproof barracks building is located in close proximity to the fort's south curtain wall and lies parallel to it along most of its length with the fort's trace. This building contains nine (9) rooms characterized by high groin vaults of brickwork and was constructed as a bombproof accommodation for the fort's garrison intended to be covered with sod. To the north of the barracks building is a high, free-standing, concrete wall built as a fire wall during the mid-20th century when the barracks was used as a magazine during the First and Second World Wars. This wall is located along the southern edge of the fort's parade. NFS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Property name Fort Hamilton H.D.. Rose Island, Newport County. Rhode Island Section number 7 Page 6 The northwest tower bastion is constructed of stone masonry with a perimeter earthen wall. The interior is partially covered by a non- contributing roof framework of heavy steel girders. Both the roof and the perimeter earthworks were added to the circular walls during the use of the structure as a munitions storage facility in the early 20th century. The southwest tower bastion was filled in and a wood-framed lighthouse, known as the Rose Island Lighthouse, was built on top of the bastion in 1869. Other alterations to the fort and site include the construction of multiple small storage facilities within the fort's parade and to the north and east of the fort's perimeter. Many of these buildings and structures have been removed. Others remain as non-contributing elements. These facilities were used in the operation of the island as a torpedo warhead- arming facility during the First and Second World Wars. Housing for facility staff, a water tower and a large warhead-loading building and pier were located to the east, outside of the fort's walls. Of these later alterations to the fort's setting, the loading building, remnants of the pier, and rubble foundations of two staff dwellings remain. The water tower has fallen to a horizontal position. The following is an annotated list of the extant contributing and non- contributing resources of the property: Bombproof Barracks (Contributing Building): 1798-1800, a 1x9 bay, single- story, stone and brick masonry building, characterized by 9 interior groin- vaulted rooms, some of which have fireplaces and chimneys. The roof, originally intended to be sod-covered, is now sheltered by a late 19th century asbestos-clad